UPI NewsTrack Sports

TEMPE, Ariz., March 15 (UPI) -- The Arizona Cardinals have released quarterback Kevin Kolb after signing Drew Stanton, the team said Friday.

Stanton was the backup to Andrew Luck at Indianapolis last season. The Cardinals also have John Skelton and Ryan Lindley on their roster of quarterbacks.

That, and contract issues, signaled Kolb might be released.

Kolb joined Arizona through a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in July 2011.

He signed a contract with the Cardinals that was reported to be worth $63 million, including a $2 million roster bonus. When the sides were unable to restructure the contract, Kolb was cut.

Kolb played 15 games for Arizona over two seasons. He completed 194-of-319 passes for 1,082 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In his six-season career he's completed 449-of-755 passes for 5,206 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Liang, Nirat lead Avantha Masters

GREATER NOIDA, India, March 15 (UPI) -- Chapchai Nirat and Liang Wen-Chong each turned in 6-under-par 66s Friday and shared the lead halfway through the European Tour's Avantha Masters in India.

Nirat had seven birdies and Liang had eight in moving to 12-under 132, two up on the field, after 36 holes.

Tied for third at 10-under are: Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 65; David Drysdale and Joonas Granberg, who had 67s; and Chawalit Plaphol, whose 18th-hole bogey gave him a 68.

Chinnarat Phadungsil, who was 11-under Thursday for the first-round lead, followed with a 2-over 74 and dropped into a tie for seventh. Phadungsil had a string of seven birdies Thursday over Nos. 10-16 but was 4-over on those holes Friday.

Liang, who started Friday on the second nine of the Jaypee Golf and Spa Resort course, had four birdies and a pair of bogeys on his first nine. He had three birdies over Nos. 1-4 and pulled into a tie for first with a birdie on his final hole of the day.

Nirat had three birdies in his final five holes to get to 12-under.

Runner dies at heat-shortened Israel race

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 15 (UPI) -- A participant in Israel's Tel Aviv Marathon died and a dozen others were hospitalized Friday after running in what officials called extreme heat.

Temperatures were in the 70s early but rose into the 90s and the Health Ministry issued a warning that the heat and humidity could pose serious health risks to runners.

Participants covered only part of the usual 26-mile marathon distance and the full event was postponed to March 22, The Jerusalem Post reported.

About a dozen runners were hospitalized with dehydration, fainting and heatstroke. Five patients were put under anesthesia and placed on respirators, officials said.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said the runner who died was given medical treatment around 8 a.m., before the heat became too extreme.

"The city of Tel Aviv expresses its deep regret over the death of one of the runners in the city's marathon," he said.

Tel Aviv City Council member Reuven Lediansky called for an investigation into the decision to let people run despite the Health Ministry's warning.

"I am shocked that despite the warnings about the heat and the orders from the Health Ministry, that the mayor decided to hold the marathon anyway for financial reasons," he said.

Philly archbishop OK's girls in football

PHILADELPHIA, March 15 (UPI) -- The archbishop of Philadelphia has ruled girls can play on Catholic Youth Organization football teams in upcoming seasons.

The decision by Archbishop Charles Chaput was prompted by a campaign by Caroline Pla, 11, who was kicked off the Romans, a junior varsity CYO football team, because of her gender, ABC News reported.

Caroline was in the middle of her third season with the Romans when someone complained about her presence on the team, her mother, Seal Pla, said.

The CYO initially cited a size-and-skill difference in determining that Caroline could no longer play on the team, then later said the decision was over possible inappropriate touching.

Caroline was allowed to finish out the 2012 season but had to retire after that.

The girl then mounted a campaign to get the archbishop to reverse the decision. A petition she started on Change.org received more than 100,000 signatures and she made an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

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